Message to the Goddess of Running Water

Skull-faced Venus impales you. Chalchiuhtlicue, Goddess of the East. Venus, West. Directions, too, in conflict. War inside creates war outside. All the outsides. All the insides. Where you flow. Blood contains 83% water. Blood contains 55% plasma. Plasma contains 92% water. Venus stabs. & we all wail. Aquatic embodiment. Deity of floods. Storms bound in you. Fourth sun. Your stoic face—knowing sacrifice. Knowing all blood delivers. Once, my lizard brain. Once, my smooth babe-chest. Once, my fertile maize stalk. Now, liquidity—lack of liquidity. Reservoirs in my platelets quiver.

Image taken from the Codex Yoalli Ehēcatl (Codex Borgia), Loubat 1898, Plate 53. (Courtesy of Ancient Americas at LACMA.)